NFL Week 8 odds and point spreads: Huge AFC North tilt upcoming

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NFL Week 8 starts with a divisional matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. The odds and point spread predict a win for Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers.

From there, the NFL has a ton of intriguing action on tap. That includes the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers doing battle in a huge AFC North clash. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers will head to the Pacific Northwest to take on Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

It’s in this that we look at the NFL Week 8 odds and point spreads as the season reaches its unofficial midway point.

Updated: Nov. 1, 9:55 AM EST

NFL Week 8 Sunday football games

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Vikings-Packers point spread: Packers -6.5 (over/under 50.0)

Injury update: Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (groin) probable

Aaron Rodgers’ four-touchdown performance in a blowout win over the Texans last week has him with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions in six games this season. Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, Rodgers has thrown 68 touchdowns compared to eight picks. As for the Vikings, they head into Week 8 having given up an average of 32 points and a 110.4 passer rating. Expect a repeat of Week 1 and a blowout Packers win. Take them and the points.

Related: Minnesota Vikings trade rumors

Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals

Oct 11, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Titans-Bengals point spread: Titans -7.0 (over/under 50.5)

Cincinnati’s brutal late-game loss to the Browns in Week 7 has this team at 1-5-1 on the season. Of those five losses, four have come by one score. They also tied with the Eagles back in Week 3. At the very least, it seems that rookie quarterback Joe Burrow has his team playing competitive football. Don’t expect that to change Week 8 against a one-loss Titans team. Four of Tennessee’s five wins this season have come by a combined 12 points. Even if you do take Ryan Tannehill and Co. straight up here, go with the Bengals and the points.

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs

Jets-Chiefs point spread: Chiefs -20.0 (over/under 49.5)

This represents the largest point spread for an NFL game since back in 2013 when the Denver Broncos, then led by Peyton Manning, were four-touchdown favorites against the Jaguars. It’s hard not to understand why. The Jets are now 0-7 on the season and are averaging 12.1 points per game. Meanwhile, Kansas City’s sole loss of the year came against the Raiders back in Week 5. The defending champs just dropped 43 points in a win over the very same Broncos team that defeated New York back in Week 4. Math isn’t terribly hard, ladies and germs.

Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions

Colts-Lions point spread: Colts -3.0 (over/under 49.5)

Prior to a Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit had gone a full 11 months without winning a game under embattled head coach Matt Patricia. Following their unlikeliest of wins against the Falcons this past Sunday, the Lions have earned three victories in less than a month. That’s a credit to Patricia’s ability to get his players to compete. It should also be a focus as you lay your bets down for Week 8. Indianapolis at -3 on the road should be a hard sell.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson facing the Kansas City Chiefs — Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers-Ravens point spread: Ravens -4.0 (over/under 46.0)

Here’s some food for thought as these two bitter AFC North rivals do battle. Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson boasts a career 2-1 record against the Steelers. However, he’s thrown one touchdown compared to three interceptions in those three games. Baltimore is also averaging just 23.3 points in those dates. The moral of the story? It’s fine to go with the home team straight up. Just don’t go with the points in what could be a playoff preview in the AFC.

Los Angeles Rams at Miami Dolphins

Rams-Dolphins point spread: Rams -3.5 (over/under 45.5)

The Dolphins benched Ryan Fitzpatrick for rookie No. 5 pick Tua Tagovailoa after they started the season with a 3-3 record. That included Fitzpatrick leading Miami to wins in three of its past four outings. Historically, this isn’t great news for the Dolphins’ betting odds heading into Week 8. Sam Darnold was the last rookie first-round pick to win his initial start back in Week 1 of the 2018 season. Since then, there’s been more ties (two) than wins for rookies making their initial start. Think about that with the Rams at -3.5.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

Patriots-Bills point spread: Bills -4.5 (over/under 40.5)

Update: Julian Edelman, Stephon Gilmore out

It’s turned pretty ugly in quick fashion for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Last week’s 33-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers represented their worst home defeat of the Belichick era. New England quarterbacks have now thrown three touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions in six games. Cam Newton has tossed five picks with zero scores in the two games since returning from COVID-19. Buffalo seems to be an easy pick at -4.5.

Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns

Raiders-Browns point spread: Browns -1.5 (over/under 48.0)

NFL injury update: Odell Beckham Jr. confirmed to have torn ACL

Following their 45-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in Week 7, the Raiders’ defense ranks 31st in the NFL in points allowed at 32.8 per game. As for Cleveland, in games it has not played against upper-echelon competition in that of the Ravens and Steelers, the team is averaging a ridiculous 37.4 points per game. If nothing else, take the over in this one. After all, the Browns are also giving up an average of 31.6 points per game. This is Arena League-level stuff.

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos

Chargers-Broncos point spread: Chargers -3.0 (over/under 44.5)

We focused a tad on Justin Hebert earlier. He’s been sensational this season, having put up 1,542 passing yards with 14 total touchdowns and just three interceptions in five starts. The same thing can’t be said for Broncos quarterbacks. Drew Lock has thrown zero touchdowns and four picks in two games since returning from injury. All said, Denver quarterbacks are on pace for 16 scores and 27 interceptions. That seems pretty darn horrible.

New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

Saints-Bears point spread: Saints -4.0 (over/under 42.5)

Injury update: Bears star Allen Robinson (concussion) questionable

Despite their 4-2 start to the season, the Saints have been absolutely horrible on defense through six games. In fact, their pass defense is downright disastrous. That span has seen defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit yield 17 passing touchdowns compared to three interceptions for an opposing passer rating of 111.6. This could ultimately be historically bad. It’s one of the reasons I have a hard time going with the Saints and the points here.

Related: Top 100 NFL players of 2020

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks' Russell Wilson and 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo NFL Week 17 game — December 29, 2019; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10, left) talks to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3, right) after the game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers-Seahawks point spread: Seahawks -3.0 (over/under 53.5)

Seahawks news: Team acquire Carlos Dunlap

Boasting a 4-3 record heading into Week 8, San Francisco is in last place in the NFC West. It’s crazy to look at. Four teams from this division could actually make the playoffs. As for this rivalry matchup, these two teams split last year with a combined point differential of two points. Each of the Seahawks’ past five games have been decided by one score. The 49ers’ four wins have come by an average of 20 points. The moral of the story? If you’re expecting a close game, go with the Seahawks. If not, San Francisco is a solid bet.

NFL Week 8 Sunday Night Football

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys-Eagles point spread: Eagles -10.5 (over/under 42.5)

Injury update: Andy Dalton (concussion) highly doubtful

The Cowboys have been outscored by a combined margin of 63-13 in their past two games. That’s their worst two-game point differential since 2004 and their second-worst margin over a two-outing span since 2002. Needless to say, things are not going swimmingly for embattled first-year head coach Mike McCarthy. Despite the Eagles’ own struggles this season (2-4-1), I expect them to win going away in what promises to be an ugly primetime matchup.

Related: Cowboys trade rumors

NFL Week 8 Monday Night Football

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants

Buccaneers-Giants point spread: Buccaneers -12.5 (over/under 45.0)

Since struggling to open his debut season with Tampa Bay, Tom Brady has played out of his mind. The six-time Super Bowl champion is completing 66% of his passes for 1,454 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception over the past five games. As for second-year Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, he’s thrown five touchdowns while turning the ball over 10 times. Jones is also taking on a Buccaneers pass defense that has given up nine touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. Do the math, guys.

NFL Week 8 Thursday Night Football

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Falcons-Panthers point spread: Panthers -1.5 (over/under 51.0)

The post Dan Quinn era has gone very much like the latter stages of the actual Dan Quinn era in Atlanta. The Falcons blew a six-point lead late in the fourth quarter of their game against the Detroit Lions in Week 7. This represents the third time in seven games that Atlanta has blown a lead within the final two minutes of a game. Their win probability in each game was through the roof. What does that mean for Week 8 against the Panthers? Expect another close Falcons loss.